I poked my head into the office. “Meeting. Now. Get Azazel too.”
They both snapped their heads up, one dark and one light. Samael furrowed his brow. “What’s this about?”
“She’s returned.” I didn’t need to elaborate. They knew who I meant.
Gadreel’s blond eyebrows darted up. “Are you sure?”
I thought of the sparks I’d felt when I touched Hannah’s hand. “Yes, I’m certain of it. Funny enough, she found me this time.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned and headed for our meeting room. The windows facing out to the rest of the command center turned opaque as soon as I flipped a switch, giving us complete privacy. The room was soundproof too, even from supernaturals with enhanced hearing. I took my seat at the end of the conference table, sinking into the plush leather executive chair. Seconds later, Samael walked inside, followed by Gadreel and Azazel. They shut the door behind them, and took seats around the table.
“I hear she’s back,” Azazel said, as she kicked her legs up on the table, showing off studded black leather boots. She was my top security official and my fiercest blade, able to wield any weapon with ease. Tight black leather was her armor of choice and anger her fuel to fight.
“Yes, and I need you to guard our new guest,” I said. “She’s in my penthouse, and I can’t allow her to leave it unless you’re by her side. I want you protecting her at all times.”
Her face twisted with annoyance, but she nodded. She would never disobey a direct order from me, even if she didn’t want to follow it.
I leaned forward and caught her eye. “I realize being a bodyguard may seem beneath you, but in truth I’ve given you the most important task of them all. Hannah’s life will soon be in danger, and you’re the only one I trust to keep her safe.”
Her annoyance faded and she bowed her head. “I won’t fail you, my lord.”
“What is her name now?” Samael asked, his hands folded calmly on the table.
“Hannah Thorn.”
“Ah. The woman asking about her friend.”
I should have known Samael would already have some information on her. Little happened within these walls that he didn’t know about. “Yes, and we need to find this friend with all haste. She went missing in The Celestial a few days ago.” I pulled out the pad of paper and handed it to him. He scanned it quickly, while I continued. “I also want everything you can dig up on Hannah’s life. Family, boyfriends, work, what she eats for breakfast—I want every single detail.”
"It will be done,” Samael said, with his usual smooth confidence.
I pulled out Hannah’s car keys and room key next, then tossed them to Gadreel. The blond man caught them with quick reflexes. “Gadreel, I need you to go to the Double Down Motel” —I shuddered simply saying the name— “And retrieve her things, along with her car. I trust you can figure out which one it is.”
“Won’t be a problem, my lord,” Gadreel said, as he examined the room key with distaste. Hannah had referred to the Double Down Motel as this cheap place off The Strip. That description oversold it.
“You have your orders. For the time being, let’s keep Hannah’s presence here between the three of us.” I rose to my feet and glanced between my loyal Fallen, while determination burned in my chest. “I lost her before, but I’m not letting her go this time. Not again.”
3
Hannah
As soon as Lucas closed the door behind him, I glanced around the guest room in wonder, still struggling to believe this was all real. Two days ago I’d been packing my bags to head to Vegas to find my friend, and now I would be living here for the next seven nights, at the whim of a man they called the devil. Sure, I’d agreed to the deal, but that didn’t make it any less terrifying. Especially now that Lucas was gone and I was alone with my thoughts.
He’d better find Brandy. And alive, too.
Please let her be alive.
I moved to the large window overlooking The Strip and wondered for the hundredth time where she was and what had happened to her. Sunlight glinted off the various hotels and casinos, and I remembered how excited Brandy had been to come here. She’d been invited to a librarian conference over a three-day weekend, winning some award that paid for the entire trip. She’d asked me to come too, to have a girls’ weekend with her in Vegas, but I’d turned her down. My florist shop was small, but it demanded almost all of my attention just to keep it afloat. Plus, I enjoyed working there in the place once owned by my parents, finding exactly the right flowers to brighten people’s homes or convey the things they couldn't always bring themselves to say. No matter how much I’d wanted to go to Vegas with Brandy, I’d said no. Now it was one of my biggest regrets.
She’d gone to Vegas alone, and then she never came home.
The last time I heard from Brandy was after she checked in to this very hotel, when she’d called to say goodnight to her son. That was six days ago.
When she didn’t answer her phone or come home at the end of the weekend, I knew something was wrong. I felt it right in my gut, and I never ignored my instincts. With a sick mom and a little kid, no way would Brandy run off. Someone must have taken her.
Over the next day I made dozens of phone calls, trying to find her, but it was useless. It soon became obvious I’d have to go to Vegas myself and figure out what happened on my own. I begged my part-time helper
